Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin has been busy since spring football finished for the Owls. He’s been watching film of recruits. He’s been preparing for future opponents. But then there’s the other side of being a head coach.

Kiffin’s been the main attraction of fundraisers and events, including the South Palm Beach County Jewish Federation’s Men’s Night Out on Tuesday at FAU Stadium. Kiffin — who traded his signature visor for a khaki suit — was the keynote speaker to nearly 100 people.

“Just trying to get out and create as much energy as we can about the program and about what’s going on,” Kiffin said. “It seemed like a great event, a lot of good people to meet that aren’t necessarily all FAU people that I’ve already met.”

Kiffin is the first FAU coach to speak at the event, but retired football stars Jason Taylor and Cris Carter have each talked with the group, which raises about $15 million annually and has ties to FAU’s Medical School. Kiffin’s remarks were not open to the media.

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FAU coach Lane Kiffin on improving the team's physical play through recruitng

FAU coach Lane Kiffin on improving the team's physical play through recruitng

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FAU coach Lane Kiffin on improving the team's physical play through recruitng

FAU coach Lane Kiffin on improving the team's physical play through recruitng

Like many local football fans, Federation officials are thrilled with Kiffin’s arrival.

“We’re just excited to have big-time football in town,” said Ira Holz, a Federation men’s division co-chair.

For Kiffin, the speaking circuit is a change from his previous jobs. During the last three seasons as Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Kiffin was on the road recruiting during this time of year. When he was a head coach at larger programs USC and Tennessee, he wasn’t tasked with drumming up local support.

In Boca Raton, after three consecutive 3-9 seasons, it’s part of his job description. He’s scheduled for another event Wednesday evening.

This season, Florida Atlantic is paying its new football coach more than any other coach in Conference USA. However, this same season, the Owls will net the smallest amount of money from non-conference games in school history, according to FAU game contracts.

In its four non-conference games this...

This season, Florida Atlantic is paying its new football coach more than any other coach in Conference USA. However, this same season, the Owls will net the smallest amount of money from non-conference games in school history, according to FAU game contracts.

In its four non-conference games this...

(Matthew DeFranks)

“You’re trying to sell tickets, you’re trying to create energy around the programs, where a lot of times, some of those programs are already selling out,” Kiffin said. “That is different at places I’d been at. I was a GA at Colorado State, which is probably the most similar type of thing, and saw Sonny Lubick do a great job there of doing that, getting the area, the community, everybody involved and create energy around the program.”

Last season, FAU had the third worst attendance in the country and the 10,073 fans per game was the lowest in FAU Stadium history.

“There’s so much to do here, which is similar to LA that you’ve got to do a good job of this to get people to come, and put a good product out there,” Kiffin said.

Brian Kelly is familiar with smaller programs. Kelly is currently the head coach at Notre Dame, but previously turned around Group of 5 schools Central Michigan (2004-06) and Cincinnati (2007-09). He led both programs to double-digit-win seasons.

At a Notre Dame event in Miami last week, Kelly said coaches, especially at smaller schools, need to be out in the community generating enthusiasm.

“You’ve got to be eating chicken dinners everywhere,” Kelly said. “You’ve got to be the face of that program and create the excitement. You can’t be sitting in the office. There is no office. Your office is at the local tavern, the local KFC.”

New Florida Atlantic University head football coach Lane Kiffin takes the field for the spring game at FAU Stadium.

(Jim Rassol)

Kelly added that May was a key time to attend events, but also said recruiting local players was a big part of his strategy at Cincinnati. In his three recruiting classes at Cincinnati, 37 of his 73 signees were from Ohio.

“I think you have to be able to pull your base,” Kelly said. “When you’re talking about the geographical schools, there has to be a homegrown feeling about your team. The kids got to come from the local area. … You’re going to fill that stadium with a passionate fan base if they can recognize those kids and they know them and they’re going to pull for them.”

According to multiple media reports, Kiffin offered seventh-grader Kaden Martin a scholarship on Monday morning. Martin, a 13-year-old quarterback, is the son of USC offensive coordinator...

(Matthew DeFranks)

In his first recruiting class and in a shortened cycle, Kiffin hauled in Conference USA’s top-rated class according to 247 Sports. The players hailed from 10 states, including 10 from Florida. Kiffin said the Owls would heavily recruit Florida in the future, but they relied on the relationships they developed at previous schools because of the quickened timeline.

FAU assistants are currently on the recruiting trail hoping to attract prospects to Boca Raton. Because NCAA rules, Kiffin can’t be there, so he’s forced to rely on his assistants and trust their assessments.

“Now, what do you do?” Kiffin said. “You’re offering all these kids. They’re going to commit, and you may not have even met them. You certainly haven’t been able to go to their school and research them and talk to their counselors and principals and janitors and all the people around them to figure out.

“It’s a difficult situation because you’re making major decisions, bringing people into your program that you haven’t been able to do the research that you used to be able to do.”

On Monday, Kiffin made news when he offered a scholarship to Kaden Martin, a 13-year-old quarterback from California. By NCAA rule, coaches are not allowed to speak about recruits publicly.